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Mortgage & LGBT Leaders Collaborate on Diversity in Chicago
In spite of many advances, LGBT individuals continue to face
discrimination in many sectors of modern life, including in the worlds
of finance and housing. Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender youth
continue to make up an abnormally high percentage of the United
States' homeless population, and local housing assistance services
don't always have systems in place to help combat that trend. LGBT
individuals also sometimes face discrimination or limitations on access
to financial services. How can the mortgage industry adapt and evolve
to meet the needs of this segment of the population? e American
Mortgage Diversity Council is working to answer that question.
On March 14, e American Mortgage Diversity Council
(AMDC), in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)
of Chicago, will host a discussion with leaders from the Chicago
LGBT community. e meeting is the second in a series of town
halls to be convened by the AMDC with LGBT community leaders
from major cities across the nation.
John Rieger, Executive Director for the American Mortgage
Diversity Council, said, "e American Mortgage Diversity Council
is a membership-driven organization of companies in the financial
services industry working collaboratively to advance the conversations
around diversity and inclusion by focusing on challenges faced by
minority- and women-owned businesses, creating solutions through
advocacy, education, and training."
e first AMDC town hall occurred in December 2017 in Dallas
and included representatives from US Bank, MSI, Accumatch,
Bank of America, Mr. Cooper, and the Five Star Institute, as well
as community leaders from local LGBT organizations and charities.
Topics discussed included housing protections for LGBT individuals,
federal programs that encourage LGBT homeownership, workplace
inclusiveness and discrimination protections, and unconscious bias
training.
Five Star President and CEO Ed Delgado said, "Five Star and
the American Mortgage Diversity Council are proud to continue
uniting mortgage industry and LGBT leaders with this series of
town hall discussions. e promotion of diversity and inclusion is
crucial for all sectors of society and business."
